Swift



Nov. 3, 1936. MQSSBERG 2,059,741

' SWIFT Filed May 51, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Y BY

L/aw SW10 A TTORNEYS.

NOV. 3, 1936. MQSSBERG 2,059,741

I SWIFT -File d May 51, 1933 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNHTED STATES ATENT Pics SWIFT Application May 31, 1933, Serial No. 673,705

Claims.

This invention relates to a swift and has for one of its objects the provision of a swift which may be adjustable throughout a wide range to receive skeins of yarn of different sizes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swift which will be collapsible that a hank of yarn may be easily positioned thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction in which there are a plurality of movable arms with the yarn engaging surface of each an equal distance from the pivot or bearing and with each of the yarn surfaces simultaneously adjustable,

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction which may be simple to operate by a single hand of the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a construction which will be of a relatively light weightto reduce its rotating inertia and make it easy to handle.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the swift formed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section showing the guides for the movable arms.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View through the relatively rotatable hubs of the device.

Fig. 5 is a detailed viewof one of the arms and its manipulating means by which it is attached to one of the rotatable drums.

Fig. 6 is. a sectional view through one of the hubs with the drum mounted thereon.

Fig. '7 is a fragmental sectional view showing a portion of the drum and the means of attaching the operating band for the arms thereto.

Fig, 8 is a sectional detail view of the clamping means for securing the adjustment of the swift for a certain size hank or skein.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 5.

In the use of swifts for unwinding skeins of yarn it is usual to have spaced wooden spokes extending from the central hub with cords extending between them, which swifts are difficult of collapsing and are not adjustable and thus different swifts must be used where hanks of different winding diameter are used, and in order that an adjustable swift may be made and also one which is collapsible for easy positioning of a skein of yarn thereon, I have provided a plurality of arms which are slidable outwardly and simultaneous1y and uniformly adjustable with reference to the pivoting center whereby the size of the swift may be easily and accurately determined, and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawings I provide a bearing means which consists of a hub it having an integral reduced extension l! and upon this extension the cooperating hub 52 is rotatably mounted and held in position by a collar 83 having a set screw it to secure it against movement axially of the extension portion it of the hub. Trunnions t5 and it extend from the ends of the hub l0 and its extension to be mounted in bearings for the rotation of the swift.

The hub member 52 is provided with an enlarged bore ill for the reception of a helically coiled spring M which encircles the extension It and has one end portion l9 fitting within a recess 20 in the hub It, and the other end portion 2i fitting within a recess 22 in hub 92. A plate 23 is secured to the hub in by screws 24 which plate has integral outwardly extending portions 25 spaced symmetrically about the center of the plate, each of these outwardly extending portions 25 is provided with a slotted generally tubular guide 26 secured to the plate in any convenient manner such as by rivets for slidably receiving the adjustable arms therein.

The arms are designated 27 and each is folded up from wire stock to provide a yarn engaging portion 28 and a shank portion 29, the shank fitting within and guided by the tubular guide 26 on the plate 23. The legs of the shank 29 are each slotted and in the slots there is located a band 3 3 which is held in place by swaging and assists in strengthening the shank 29.

The hub I 2 is provided with a drum 3t secured to hub I2 by screws 3i, which drum has a cylindrical surface 32 which is slotted as at 33 at intervals equally spaced about the periphery thereof. The number of slots will correspond to the number of guides and the steel band 34 which is offset as at 35 fits through the slot 33 to attach it to the drum.

There is sufficient stiifness in the band 34 to partake of sufficient thrust to slide the arms out wardly through their guides although the band will bend when the drum is operated in a direction to wrap around the drum and draw the arms inwardly through their guides. The expanding action is assisted by the spring 58 tending to rotate the drum relative to the plate 23 in a direction to cause this expansion, while a contraction may be had by gripping the hub l0 in the palm of the hand with the fingers engaging the handle 3? to force the arm to which it is attached inwardly and by reason of the thrust on the band 34 rotate the drum to also move the other arms inwardly. These handles are placed on the arms for convenience of the operator. Fingers 38 are folded over from the edge of the plate to guide each of the bands in its movement about the drum and assist in preventing it from buckling.

A slot is cut in the plate 23 as indicated at 39 while a slot is cut in the web 49 of the drum as indicated at 4 i. Mounted upon the plate and adjustable along the slot 39 there is a stud 42 having an enlarged collar 43 thereon which may be bound in place against the plate 23 by a wing nut 44 engaging a washer 45 which abuts against the other side of the plate 23 and firmly clamps the collar and the washer in adjusted position along the slot 39. The collar 43 is of a size to slide within the slot ll and which collar forms a stop by engagement with the end of the slot to limit the rotation of the drum and thus cause the arms to assume a certain definite position to which they have been adjusted while permitting a contraction of size if this position be not the inner limit of the adjustment. The hubs will be so related that the spring 18 will be under tension at all times tending to cause the hubs to relatively rotate to move the arms outwardly and expand the yarn engaging size of the swift. It will thus be observed that the spring is under greater tension when the swift is in contracted position than When expanded.

The peripheral surface 66 of the collar !3 and the adjacent peripheral surface of the hub l2 provide a surface for a portion of a friction brake to retard the rotation of the swift while the groove portion ll on the opposite side of the hub forms a point over which a hanging weight may be positioned to tension the swift in a usual manner, if desired.

The guides 26 are positioned so as to be in line with a tangent to the outer surface of the drum and thus the steel bands, in movement in and out through the guides by pushing or pulling the arms to or from position, do not drag or cause any excessive friction upon the guides. The arms are all symmetrically placed and as they are operated simultaneously and all extend an equal distance from the bearing at any position of ad justment, the yarn engaging surface will always be in substantially a true circle and an even balanced swift, and one which will not vibrate excessively is provided. By this arrangement of construction I may make the device light in weight whereby to reduce the rotating inertia making the swift easy of starting by pulling on the thread and also by being of little weight will not overrun when the pull on the yarn is stopped.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a swift, a pair of relatively rotatable members, each provided with a slot therein, resilient means for relatively rotating said rotatable members, and abutment means adjustably secured to the surfaces adjacent to one of said slots and extending therethrough and into the other slot for engaging the edge surface at the ends thereof for limiting the relative rotation of said rotatable members.

2. In a swift, a pair of relatively rotatable hubs, a plate secured to one of said hubs and provided with a slot therein, a drum secured to the other hub and provided with a slot therein, resilient means for relatively rotating said hubs, and abutment means adjustably positioned in one of said slots and extending into the other slot for engaging the edge surface of the end thereof for limiting the relative rotation of said hubs.

3. In a swift, a spider having a plurality of outwardly extending guides, arms slidably positioned in said guides and having yarn engaging surfaces thereon extending from said guides, a drum rotatable with reference to said spider, a steel tape bendable and capable of transmitting thrust secured to each arm and said drum to wrap about said drum and operate said arms by relative movement of said drum and spider, a projection positioned on said spider adjacent to one end of said guides and in contact with said tape for assisting in guiding and preventing said tape from buckling, and resilient means tending to relatively rotate said drum and spider to force said arms outwardly along their guides.

4. In a swift, a spider provided with a slot therein and forming a plurality of outwardly extending guides, arms slidable in said guides, a drum provided with a slot therein and rotatable with reference to said spider, means connecting said arms to said drum for operating them in said guides by relative movement of said drum and spider, resilient means tending to relatively rotate said drum and spider to force said arms outwardly along their guides, and means adjustably positioned in one of said slots and extending into the other slot to engage the edge surface at the end thereof to limit the action of said resilient means.

5. In a swift, a pivot means, a pair of relatively rotatable hubs rotatable about said pivot means as an axis, a drum provided with a slot therein on one hub, a plate secured to said other hub and provided with a slot and a plurality of guides extending in a direction tangential to said drum, arms in said guides, means secured to said drum and arms to move said arms in said guides by a relative movement of said hubs, resilient means in said hubs tending to relatively rotate them to cause the arms to expand, and abutment means having a portion positioned in one of said slots and adjustably secured to the surface adjacent thereto and extending into the other slot to engage the edge surface at the end thereof to limit the action of said resilient means.

FRANK MOSSBERG. 

